A/N: I write lots of my own stories...95% of them Historical Fiction. So playing with Sci-Fi is like the total oppisite of what I'm used to. There are no hard facts. While that would seem like a freedom from the usual, it stresses me out, because I want accuracy. So if there is anyone more comfortable with this genre who has an idea for this story, I'd love to hear it :)

That said, here's chapter three!

The dull ache in McCoy's arm was becoming worse, though he wondered if it wasn't just mental. After all, the idea of a life form growing in one's arm was incredibly disconcerting. And yet, he knew for certain his grip was becoming weaker, as though the control he had over his arm was diminishing.

Spock readily offered a solution to the life form's spreading - much to McCoy's unspoken relief. The procedure was mostly used on patients who had rare, old-earth diseases that spread through the body. The basic principle was to put a shield, such as the starships used, through the affected area. It was dangerous, as blood flow was cut off. A small attached device could compensate for this for a short time; however, if the problem wasn't solved in a 48 hour period, the shield needed to be removed or the limb...depending on which was less dangerous for the patient.

"The question is, though," Kirk said as they discussed the problem in McCoy's office, "will we be able to extract the creature before 48 hours is up?"

"Uncertain," Spock admitted.

McCoy sighed. He had his infected arm pressed against himself protectively. "I want to just get the procedure over with. We don't know what this..." he paused, because he hated to say it, "creature will do once it spreads."

"Do you have anyone onboard qualified to do it?" Kirk asked.

"Technically, no," McCoy said. He looked at Chapel, who was pretending to be working busily at her station. "But Nurse Chapel has assisted during two such procedures, according to her records."

The woman's head shot up, and she stared at the three men who were now staring at her expectantly. "Oh, I, uhm..."

"I am right in saying so, aren't I, nurse?" McCoy asked.

"Well, yes, doctor, but I-" Chapel swallowed nervously.

McCoy smiled encouragingly. "You'll do just fine. I can talk you through it, and you'll have no problems."

"But it's a very fine technique, doctor, placing the blood circulation unit."

"I trust your skills, Nurse Chapel."

The nurse hesitated a moment, then nodded. "Thank you, doctor. I will prepare for the procedure."

McCoy had made a point in his years as a doctor to avoid being the patient. However, when you are the CMO on an adventure fueled starship, it can be unavoidable. As McCoy lay on the operating table, staring at the ceiling, he wished more than ever that he had stayed home, on earth, where he belonged.

"If men were meant to fly, he'd have been born with wings," he muttered under his breath. He felt light headed from the effects of the painkiller in his system.

"What was that, doctor?" Chapel asked.

McCoy turned his eyes on her. "Nothing. Are you ready?"

"Yes, doctor."

Under normal conditions, that is, with an actual doctor doing the operation, the patient would be unconcious, unaware; however, since McCoy was having to direct Chapel, he had to stay awake.

To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie. In fact, if he wanted to be perfectly honest with himself, McCoy was terrified. Of course he trusted his nurse to do her absolute best, but that did not account for her inexperience. That fact aside, the operation was not painless, even with strong painkiller.

Fortunately, though, it was short.

The shield, working its way through skin, muscle and bone burned like nothing McCoy could remember. He winced and clenched his fists so tight he could feel his fingernails biting into his palm.

"Almost done, doctor," Nurse Chapel said, almost apologetically.

McCoy nodded. "Do you have the circulation unit ready?"

"Yes."

He felt the cold metal of the device touch his skin as Chapel carefully adjusted it to the proper position.

"Does it feel right, doctor?" she asked.

"Does it look right?" Directing her was harder than he had anticipated.

Chapel paused for a moment, and he felt the unit shift a fraction of an inch. "Yes, doctor."

"Then place it."

When he was in medical school, it was required to learn how to use the old-earth medical tools, such as needles. McCoy had recieved a few shots, and knew he did not like the feeling of a thin point sliding into his skin. But the circulation unit was much worse than a simple shot. Five needles at once pierced his arm painfully. McCoy hissed his displeasure.

"Done, doctor," Nurse Chapel sighed.

McCoy opened his eyes, realizing just now that he had closed them. "Good. You did well, Nurse Chapel."

"I just hope it works, doctor."

He looked over at her. "Me too."

"How do you feel, Bones?" Kirk asked, standing when McCoy and Nurse Chapel came out of the operating room.

McCoy raised an eyebrow. "As good as anyone would after having a shield put through them." He looked down at his poor arm, cradled in a sling. "I won't be able to move my arm, however, until that darned creature is removed."

"Do you have any ideas where to begin?" Kirk asked.

"We will have to run some tests to see where exactly the life form is growing and what it is infecting...which seems to be pretty much everything." McCoy sighed. "It would certainly help if we had a sample of that plant."

Kirk nodded. "Spock took another landing party down for another search."

Still woozy from the pain medication, McCoy swayed. Chapel caught his good arm and helped him sit down at his desk. McCoy blinked tiredly. The stress and pain were really getting to him...and the guilt, he realized suddenly.

"I'm sorry, Jim," he said, "I'm really putting a kink in our schedule, aren't I?"

"No more than others have before you," Kirk said with a smile. "You're not the first one to be affected by alien life."

"Maybe not," McCoy agreed, but he frowned, "but if I had been paying attention and using my tricorder, none of this would have happened in the first place."

Kirk shrugged. "What's done is done. Nothing we can do about it now except fix it."

"Yeah." McCoy nodded. He felt so tired.

"I think Dr. McCoy should rest for a little while," Nurse Chapel said. "The procedure takes a lot of energy, especially when the patient is awake during it."

McCoy humphed. "I'm fine."

"I think your nurse is right, Bones," Kirk said, putting a hand on McCoy's good shoulder. "You get some rest, and that's an order."

"Hey," McCoy said, "I'm the one who gives the prescriptions."

"And as acting doctor, I prescribe a few hours sleep," Chapel said firmly. Her confidence was finding its way back.

McCoy glared at his nurse and captain in turn. "Fine. But only for a few hours."

A/N: Next chapter coming soon! Thanks everyone for your reviews and support :)